US20150221180A1

Movatterモバイル変換

Info

Publication number: US20150221180A1
Application number: US14/170,863
Authority: US
Inventors: Cao J.C. Araico
Original assignee: TCS John Huxley Europe Ltd
Current assignee: TCS John Huxley Europe Ltd
Priority date: 2014-02-03
Filing date: 2014-02-03
Publication date: 2015-08-06

Abstract

A method of playing a wagering card game by at least one player, comprising the steps of drawing a plurality of cards from a deck of cards to form a group of cards without revealing the identities of the group of cards. Providing the opportunity for a player to place a wager by predicting a winning criteria related to a possible card identity. Randomly selecting one of the group of cards and revealing the identity of the selected card. Comparing the identity of the selected card to the criteria of the player wager. Settling the player's wager on the basis of the comparison.

A gaming machine, gaming system, a non-transitory computer readable medium including a software program or a plurality of software programs, and a gaming table for playing the game, and a method of playing the wagering card game using a gaming apparatus.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This disclosure relates to card games, and particularly provides a card game in which many players can wager on the value of a selected card.

BACKGROUND

There are many different card games played in casinos (or other gaming venues) and online, having different card dealing and wagering rules, and rules for valuing and ranking hands. These card games include, for example, Baccarat and Blackjack.

A drawback of some known games is that each game being played can only accommodate a relatively small number of players. For example a game of Baccarat is played between a banker and a single player. As a result, it may be difficult to provide enough games for all of the potential players to play simultaneously, resulting in players having to wait for a place at a game to become available. Further, a drawback of some games where more players can be accommodated in each game is that there is generally a requirement for each player in turn to take actions and/or make decisions, which can lead to relatively slow game play.

This is a problem because having to wait for a place in a game to become available, and slow game play, may both result in players becoming bored and stopping playing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method for playing a wagering card game by at least one player, comprising the steps of: drawing a plurality of cards from a deck of cards to form a group of cards without revealing the identities of the group of cards; providing the opportunity for a player to place a wager by selecting a winning criteria related to a possible card identity; randomly selecting one of the group of cards and revealing the identity of the selected card; comparing the identity of the selected card to the criteria of the player wager; and settling the player's wager on the basis of the comparison.

The methods of the first aspect may be implemented as a live table game, where physical cards are dealt on a table either by a dealer in person or by a card dealing machine, and players present can place wagers on the outcome of the game. Alternatively, the methods may be implemented as an electronic gaming application, either played online via a fixed or a mobile device, or on a dedicated gaming machine for example at a casino.

A second aspect of the present disclosure provides a gaming machine comprising: a display screen for displaying a selected card to a player; input means to allow a player to input wager information comprising a prediction of a winning criteria related to a possible card identity; a memory for storing the wager information; a processor operable to: receive the wager information and store it in the memory; randomly generate a plurality of cards from a deck of cards to form a group of cards without revealing the identities of the group of cards; randomly select one of the group of cards and reveal the identity of the selected card; and determine the result of the wager by comparing the identity of the selected card to the criteria of the stored player wager; determine an amount of winnings payable to the player; and communicate the amount of winnings to the player, via the display screen.

A third aspect of the present disclosure provides a gaming system comprising a gaming server and a plurality of gaming terminals, the gaming server and the said plurality of gaming terminals being linked by a communications network, wherein each of the gaming terminals comprises: a display screen for displaying a selected card to a player; and input means to allow a player to input wager information comprising a prediction of a winning criteria related to a possible card identity; and wherein the gaming server comprises: a card generator for generating card data representing randomly-selected playing cards; a memory in which is stored: a payout table storing correlations between a selected card identity, a predicted result, and an amount to be paid; and received player wager information; and a processor operable to: randomly generate a plurality of cards from a deck of cards to form a group of cards without revealing the identities of the group of cards; receive betting information from at least one player terminal; randomly select one of the group of cards and reveal the identity of the selected card; transmit card data for the selected card to the gaming terminals for display; determine a result of the wager by comparing the identity of the selected card to the criteria of the stored player wager; and settle each player's wager on the basis of the predicted result, the selected card, and the payout table.

A fourth aspect of the present disclosure further provides a non-transitory computer readable medium including a software program or a plurality of software programs which, when executed, enables a gaming machine to provide to at least one player a wagering card game comprising the steps of: receiving wager data representing a players wager, the wager data comprising a prediction of a winning criteria related to a possible card identity, from a player at a player terminal; randomly generating a plurality of cards from a deck of cards to form a group of cards without revealing the identities of the group of cards; randomly selecting one of the group of cards and reveal the identity of the selected card; and determining the result of the wager by comparing the identity of the selected card to the criteria of the stored player wager; determining an amount of winnings payable to the player; and settling the players wager on the basis of the determined result of the deal and the bet data.

A fifth aspect of the present disclosure provides a gaming table for playing the card game ofclaim1, the gaming table comprising: a dealer position intermediate the length of a first side of the table; a card dealing area delineated on the table adjacent the dealer position, to receive the group of cards; a number of player positions spaced along a second side of the table opposite the first side; a plurality of wager regions distributed across the gaming table, with different wager regions corresponding to respective predicted winning criteria related to a possible card identity.

A sixth aspect of the present disclosure provides a method of playing a wagering card game by at least one player, using a gaming apparatus comprising: one or more decks of playing cards; a card shuffling and dealing apparatus; a gaming table having delineated thereon: a card dealing area; a number of player positions; a plurality of wager regions distributed across the gaming table, with different wager regions corresponding to respective predicted winning criteria related to a possible card identity; random selection means; and tokens for representing the value of a wager; the method comprising the steps of: delivering, from the shuffling and dealing apparatus, a plurality of cards from a deck of cards to form a group of cards face down on the card dealing area; the player placing a wager on a possible game outcome, by positioning a number of tokens to the amount of the wager in a wager region associated with the player's predicted winning criteria; using the random selection means, randomly selecting one of the group of cards and placing the selected card face up on the card dealing area; determining the outcome of the game by comparing the identity of the selected card to the criteria of the player wager, by either: placing a number of additional tokens in the wager region in which the tokens forming the wager were positioned; or removing the tokens positioned in the wager region by the player.

A seventh aspect of the present disclosure provides a method of playing a wagering card game by at least one player, comprising the steps of: associating card identities of a deck of cards with different ones of a plurality of colours; providing the opportunity for a player to place a wager by predicting the colour associated with a card to be selected; selecting a card; determining whether the player prediction is correct by determining whether the colour associated with the card identity of the selected card is the same as the player prediction; if the player prediction is correct, repeating the same player prediction for a subsequent selected card; comparing the number of consecutive times the player prediction is correct to a results table; and settling the player's wager on the basis of the comparison.

Another aspect of the present disclosure provides a card game with first and second successive random or pseudo random selection steps, in which the first random or pseudo random selection step selects a plurality of cards, and the second random or pseudo random selection step selects from the purality of cards.

Another aspect of the present disclosure provides a card game in which a first group of cards is selected from a second group of cards, and a subsequent selection is made from the first group of cards to select a card for use in game play.

The electronic device or the gaming terminal can be selected from a computer, an electronic game table, a gaming machine, a mobile phone, a tablet or pad computer, and a smartphone. The game server may be a network device other than a server, and may for example be a desktop or laptop computer.

An advantage of the present disclosure is that a number of players can play the game without slowing game play, as the placing of wagers may be carried out simultaneously by the different players. The placing of wagers regarding the identity of a card selected from a group of cards which have already been drawn and placed face down, or with their identities otherwise concealed, may increase player interest in the game. The provision of a progressive side game may provide players who do not win the main game with an ongoing possibility to win the side game, and this may increase player interest in the main game and side game combination.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a method for playing a card game with rules according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a table adapted for playing the game;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a playing surface adapted for playing the game;

FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of the general arrangement of a card selection apparatus adapted for playing the game;

FIG. 5 shows a schematic view of a control unit of the card selection apparatus ofFIG. 4;

FIGS. 6ato6dshow plan views of card stations of the card selection apparatus ofFIG. 4 in a different states in use;

FIG. 7 shows a flow chart of operation of the card selection apparatus ofFIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a playing surface adapted for playing the game;

FIG. 9 is a schematic view of a gaming machine according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 10 shows a flow chart of operation of the gaming machine ofFIG. 9;

FIGS. 11ato11dshow stages of operation of a shuffling method used by the gaming machine ofFIG. 9;

FIG. 12 is a schematic view of a gaming system according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 13 shows a flow chart of operation of a side game according to the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a method100 for playing a card game with rules according to one embodiment of the first aspect of the present disclosure.

The method starts at astep101 by dealing out six cards and laying them face down. The six cards are dealt from a shuffled stack of cards containing one or more decks of standard playing cards with jokers. Accordingly, the six cards dealt have random identities. In a preferred example the stack of cards contains five or six decks of standard playing cards, with each deck having two jokers.

In a “real world” example of the game the dealing may be carried out by a croupier or dealer.

Then, at astep102 wagers are received from one or more players, each wager being based on one or more selected features of the identity of a possible card, and an amount element indicating a monetary or other value for the wager. The wagers are taken by the organization or individual running the game, referred to as the house.

The wagering rules may optionally allow secondary, side or jackpot bets, such as progressive jackpot bets, to be made by players in the manner of secondary, side or jackpot wagering in poker and blackjack. In “real-world” games, wagers may be made by placing actual cash or gambling chips on a betting area of a gaming table, or by inserting cash or tokens into a gaming machine.

In a variant method, players may be allowed to begin placing wagers before the six cards have been dealt and laid out face down.

When all players have placed their wagers, the method moves ontostep103 where one of the six face down cards is randomly selected.

The method100 then moves tostep104, where the randomly selected card is turned over to reveal its identity.

The method100 then moves on tostep105, in which the winning and losing wagers are identified, based on a comparison of the identity of the selected card to the selected features of the different wagers. If the selected card matches the criteria of a wager the wager is regarded as a winning wager.

Thefinal step106 in themethod10 is to resolve the wagers placed by the players and pay winners. The amount won by a player placing a winning wager may depend on the amount wagered and the payout odds assigned to the wager placed by a payout schedule. The losing wagers are retained by the house.

The wager criteria may include the specific identity of the selected card or various combinations of the card value and suit.

Accordingly, in the game a card is selected from a deck of cards by dealing a number of cards face down, and then randomly selecting one of the face down cards for use in the game.

This process may increase the degree of randomness of the selected card beyond what would be obtained by taking a card directly from the deck, regardless of how thoroughly the deck has previously been shuffled.

Further, the selection of one card from six of cards which have already been dealt face down may make it evident to observers that the card has been randomly selected because once the cards have been dealt face down it will not be possible for the cards to be exchanged or identified before the selected card is turned over. Accordingly, since wagers are placed after the six cards have been dealt face down but before the card is selected. Accordingly, users can be reassured that the identities of the six cards, which have already been dealt out face down, cannot have been selected or changed in response to the wagers made.

Examples of possible wagers, and the payout odds for winning these possible wagers according to a possible payout schedule are set out below in Table 1. A player placing a winning wager will have the wagered amount, also known as the stake, returned, and also receive winnings equal to the wagered amount multiplied by the payout odds for the winning wager.

Table 1 also shows the probability that the selected card matches each possible wager, the real odds that would correspond to players on average making no profit or loss, and the percentage that the house will on average retain, known as the house percentage or house edge, for each wager.

TABLE 1

		Real	Payout	House
Wager	Probability	Odds	odds	Percentage

Specific card

	1/54	53:1	51:1	1.8518
Joker	2/54	26:1	25:1	3.7037
Red card	26/54	14:13	1:1	48.1481
Black card	26/54	14:13	1:1	48.1481
Evennumber	20/54	17:10	16:10	37.037
Odd number	20/54	17:10	16:10	37.037
Low number (A-5)	20/54	17:10	16:10	37.037
High number (6-10)	20/54	17:10	16:10	37.037
AnyJack	4/54	25:2	12:1	7.4074
AnyQueen	4/54	25:2	12:1	7.4074
AnyKing	4/54	25:2	12:1	7.4074
AnyAce	4/54	25:2	12:1	7.4074
Specific number	4/54	41:13	12:1	7.4074
Specific Suit	13/54	41:13	12:1	24.0741

For the purposes of the odd number and even number wagers an ace is regarded as an odd number.

For the purposes of the low number and high number wagers an ace and numbered cards two to five are regarded as low numbers and numbered cards six to ten are regarded as high numbers.

The picture cards (Jack, Queen, King) and Jokers are regarded as having no numerical value, and so will not match wagers on odd numbers, even numbers, high numbers or low numbers.

Jokers are regarded as having no suit or colour, and so will not match wagers on red, black or specific suits.

As is explained above, Table 1 shows only some examples of possible wagers. Other possible wagers can easily be defined, for example, any picture card, a picture card with a specific suit, a number in therange 4 to 7, any even numbered red card, etc.

The probability of any specific card being the selected card is known. Accordingly, the probability of any defined wager winning can be easily calculated. Appropriate payout odds ensuring a positive house percentage can then be assigned to the defined wager based on this probability of winning.

In theory a very large number of possible wagers can be defined, and in practice it may be preferred to limit the number of possible wagers made available to players in order to avoid players become confused by the number of possible wagering options. The selection of which possible wagers to offer may be made on a case by case basis.

As can be seen in Table 1 the house percentage of the different wagers varies. As a result, the overall house percentage will vary depending on which possible wagers are supported in any specific example, and the proportion of the different possible wagers made by players. However, since all of the wagers in Table 1 have a positive house percentage the house will on average make a profit regardless of which wagers players chose to make.

If wagers were evenly distributed across all of the possible wagers in Table 1, on average the house percentage should be about 3.7%.

The method of the invention can be implemented as a live table game in a casino (or other gaming venue) and performed manually using physical cards, non-electronic gaming tables and physical wagering chips. The method may also be implemented in computer software and performed electronically using virtual playing cards on a networked or standalone electronic device selected from computers, electronic game tables, gaming machines, mobile phones, and smartphones. Other equivalent electronic devices may also be used. The method may also be implemented partly manually and partly electronically, for example, on a hybrid electronic gaming table with physical cards.

The method of the invention may also be implemented as an online gaming application in a computing system that includes a back-end component (e.g., as a data server), or that includes a middleware component (e.g., an application server), or that includes a front-end component (e.g., a client computer having a graphical user interface or a Web browser through which a user may interact with an implementation of the subject matter described herein), or any combinations of such back-end, middleware, or front-end components. The components of the system may be interconnected by any form or medium of digital data communication (e.g., a communication network). Examples of communication networks include a local area network (“LAN”), a wide area network (“WAN”), and the internet.

Examples of the invention, which are illustrative only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention, will now be described in more detail.

The description above, and the examples relate to a version of the game in which six cards are initially dealt and laid out face down, and one of the six cards is then selected, with wagers being made on the identity of the selected card. Other versions of the game may be played in which a different number of cards are initially laid face down, and/or a different number of cards are selected. In versions where a different number of cards are selected, wagers may be made on the identities of one, some or all of the selected cards, and/or on collective properties of the selected cards. It may be preferred not to play the game with four or seven cards being initially dealt, as these numbers are considered unlucky by some cultures.

Example 1

In a casino live table game example, players place their wagers or bets based on selected features of the identity of the randomly selected card.

In the first example illustrated inFIG. 2, the table game is played on a generally semicircular table110 having a generallysemicircular playing area111 having a gaming layout for placing wagers, seen in plan view inFIG. 2. In the first example the generally semicircular table may for example be a conventional Blackjack table bearing the illustrated gaming layout. The gaming table110 has a generallycurved edge112 and a generallystraight edge113. A number of playing positions are spaced around thecurved edge112 of the gaming table110, and a dealer position is defined at the centre of thestraight edge113, possibly by aslight recess114 in the straight edge of the semicircular table110.

Conveniently, in front of or adjacent to the dealer position, acardholding area115 is defined. Thecardholder area115 includes sixcard receiving positions3ato3f.

Thecard receiving positions3ato3fmay be formed by a card selection apparatus, as will be discussed in detail below. Alternatively, thecard receiving positions3ato3fmay be formed by depressions in, or raised areas of, the tabletop, or may simply be delineated on the surface of the table by lines or raised ridges, by an area of contrasting colour, or in any other suitable manner.

In this embodiment, cards are provided from a card shuffling and dealingapparatus116, which sequentially delivers randomly-selected cards from a supply of cards held within theapparatus116. As discussed above, the supply of cards is five or six decks of conventional playing cards, with each deck having two Jokers. Alternatively, a conventional shoe containing five or six standard decks each with two Jokers may be used. The decks of playing cards may be shuffled twice by a mechanical card shuffler before use, that is, shuffled, and then shuffled again.

In alternative embodiments a dealing shoe with more or fewer decks of cards may also be used, or the dealer may simply hold a pack of cards in his hands and deal cards manually.

The playingarea111 is divided into a number of regions providing different alternative options for wagers. A player may place cash or gambling chips on a region of the playing area to place a bet that the selected card will match the criteria defined by that region.

For example, a player placing cash or gambling chips on the region of theplaying area111 labelled “small 1, 2, 3, 4, 5” will place a bet that the selected card will be an Ace or one of the numberedcards 2 to 5 of any suit. This corresponds to the Low number wager of Table 1.

In the illustrated example the playingarea111 also includes a region labelled “large 6, 7, 8, 9, 10” which places a bet that the selected card will be one of the numberedcards 6 to 10 of any suit. This corresponds to the High number wager of Table 1.

Further, the playingarea111 also includes regions labelled “2”, “3”, “4”, “5”, “6”, “7”, “8”, “9” and “10”, which each place a bet that the selected card will have the respective number value of any suit. These each correspond to a different Any number wager of Table 1.

Further, the playingarea111 includes a region labelled “Odd”, which places a bet that the selected card will be an Ace or one of the numbered

cards

3, 5, 7 or 9 of any suit. This corresponds to the Odd number wager of Table 1.

Further, the playingarea111 includes a region labelled “Even”, which places a bet that the selected card will be one of the numbered

cards

2, 4, 6, 8 or 10 of any suit. This corresponds to the Even number wager of Table 1.

Further, the playingarea111 includes a region labelled “Red”, which places a bet that the selected card will be a heart or diamond suit. This corresponds to the Red card wager of Table 1.

Further, the playingarea111 includes a region labelled “Black”, which places a bet that the selected card will be a club or spade suit. This corresponds to the Black card wager of Table 1.

Further, the playingarea111 includes region labelled “Hearts”, “Spades”, “Diamonds” and “Clubs”, which each place a bet that the selected card will be the respective specified suit. These each correspond to a different Specific suit wager of Table 1.

Further, the playingarea111 includes regions labelled “Any Jack”, “Any Queen”, “Any King” and “Any Ace”, which each place a bet that the selected card will be the respective value card of any suit. These each correspond to a respective one of the Any jack, Any queen, Any king and Any ace wagers of Table 1.

Further, the playingarea111 includes regions bearing the image of each of the Jack, Queen, King and Ace of each suit, which each place a bet that the selected card will be the imaged value and suit. These each correspond to a different specific card wager of Table 1.

Further, the playingarea111 includes a region labelled “Joker” and bearing the image of the Joker, which each place a bet that the selected card will be a Joker. This corresponds to a Joker wager of Table 1.

In the first example the game is played by a croupier or dealer dealing out six cards from the card shuffling and dealingapparatus116 one by one, and placing each card in turn face down on a respective one of thecard receiving positions3ato3f.

Then, wagers are made by the players placing cash or gambling chips on the regions of theplaying area111 corresponding to the desired wagers. These wagers are received and accepted by the dealer.

When all of the players have placed their desired wagers, the dealer announces that no more bets will be taken. Then, one of the six face down cards is randomly selected, and the randomly selected card is turned over by the dealer to display the identity of the selected card to the players.

Conveniently, the selected card may be removed from a face down position on its respective card receiving position by the dealer, turned over, and placed face up again on the same card receiving position.

Wagers placed by the players are then resolved, in accordance with a predefined payout schedule, in this example the payout schedule according to Table 1. In other examples, different payout schedules may be used.

The dealer then identifies and pays out any winning wagers, collects the stakes of losing wagers, and removes all of the six cards, both the selected card and the unselected cards, from the card receiving positions.

Once all the winning players have received their payouts, and the stakes of losing players have been collected by the house, play restarts for another round of the game.

In an alternative example players may be allowed to place wagers before the six cards are dealt face down. However, it is expected that players will find it more interesting and exciting to place their wagers after the six cards have been dealt.

In game play where the dealer performs all of the card manipulations and the players do not touch the playing cards, the cards may be subsequently shuffled and re-dealt, for example by being returned to an automatic card shuffling and dealing device in examples where this is used. Alternatively, games in which the players may be permitted to handle the cards, for example where a player turns over the selected card, in order to avoid any suspicion of card tampering, the cards may be destroyed or discarded after each game.

In examples where the removed cards are not returned to the card shuffling and dealingapparatus116, or where a conventional shoe is used, each time the game is played the number of cards in the supply will be reduced by six. In such examples the supply of cards may be replaced when the number of remaining cards reaches a predetermined minimum value, in order to prevent players card counting in order to predict what cards are still present in the pack. Such card counting could otherwise allow players to distort the game odds and unfairly profit.

Example 2

In this example, game play is similar to the example set out above with the difference that a different playing area is used.

In a real-world example, the game is played on a casino table similar to that described in relation to Example 1, except that adifferent playing area120 illustrated inFIG. 3 is used.

The playingarea120 differs from the playingarea111 according to the first example mainly in that the playingarea120 does not include any regions corresponding to a wager on any specific card identities for the selected card. Thus, compared to theplaying area111, the regions bearing the image of each of the Jack, Queen, King and Ace of each suit, which each place a bet that the selected card will be the imaged value and suit each corresponding to a specific card wager of Table 1 are not present in theplaying area120.

The reduced number of regions in theplaying area120 may provide a less cluttered playing area, and so may make it easier for players to follow the game and decide what wagers to place. Further, the reduced number of regions corresponds to a reduction in the number of different bets available, so this may make it easier for players to decide what wagers to place. Accordingly, both of these changes may speed up game play, allowing more games to be played in a set period.

Further, the removed specific card wagers have a low probability of winning. Accordingly, by removing these wager options so that players will make wagers having a higher probability of winning the number and/or rate of wins taking place during play may be increased. This may increase the level of player excitement and interest in the game, and may encourage non-playing observers to begin playing.

The playingarea120 also differs from the playingarea111 by each region of theplaying area120 including the payout odds of the wager corresponding to that region. This may assist players understanding of the game.

The payout odds may be included in the wager indicating regions in any example of the invention.

In the described examples, the cards which are available for selection are placed face down. This is not essential. In other examples the identities or values of the cards may additionally, or alternatively, be concealed in other known ways.

Example 3

In this example the game is played using an electronic card selecting apparatus illustrated schematically inFIG. 4. The electronic card selecting apparatus carries out the function of randomly selecting one card for use in the game from the six face down cards.

FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of the general arrangement of acard selection apparatus1 adapted for playing the game.

Thecard selection apparatus1 comprises sixcard stations2ato2f. Eachcard station2ato2fdefines a respectivecard receiving position3ato3fsized and shaped to receive a playing card, and a light4ato4fassociated with the respectivecard receiving position3ato3f. Eachcard station2ato2fhas itsrespective light4ato4flocated adjacent to its respectivecard receiving position3ato3fso that when itsrespective light4ato4fis illuminated this provides an unambiguous visual indication of its respectivecard receiving position3ato3f.

In the illustrated embodiment each of thelights4ato4fis a light emitting diode (LED). In other examples other forms of light source may be used.

Thecard selection apparatus1 also comprises acontrol unit10 connected to thecard stations2ato2f. Thecontrol unit10 controls the illumination of thelights4ato4f. Thecard selection apparatus1 further comprises a first user input means comprising afirst push button5 and a second user input means comprising asecond push button6 to allow users to control operation of thecard selection apparatus1. The first and

second push buttons

5 and6 are connected to thecontrol unit10.

In the illustrated example each of the first and second user input means is a push button. In other examples other forms of user input means may be used.

FIG. 5 shows a schematic view of thecontrol unit10. Thecontrol unit10 comprises aninput module7, anoutput module8, a randomnumber generator module9, aclock module11, and acentral processing module12.

Theinput module7 is arranged to receive control signals from the first and

second push buttons

5 and6 along respectivecontrol signal lines5aand6a, and to provide the received control signals to thecentral processing module12.

Theoutput module8 is arranged to receive a card receiving station selection signal from thecentral processing module12, and to provide a driving signal to the light4ato4fof the selectedcard station2ato2falong a respectivedrive signal line13ato13f.

The randomnumber generator module9 is arranged to receive a request for a random number from thecentral processing module12, and to respond to this request by providing a random number to thecentral processing module12.

Theclock module11 provides a clock signal to thecentral processing module12.

FIGS. 6ato6dshow plan views of thecard stations2ato2fof thecard selection apparatus1 at different stages of a card selection operation using thecard selection apparatus1 to play the game.

As can be seen inFIGS. 6ato6d, the sixcard stations2ato2fare provided by a single commoncard display body14. When thecard selection apparatus1 is used in the first or second examples the card display body may occupy thecardholder area115.

FIG. 6ashows thecard display body14 in a starting state before commencing the card selection operation. In the starting state shown inFIG. 6athere are no cards present on thecard display body14 and thelights4ato4fare not illuminated.

Each of thecard stations2ato2fcomprises a respectivecard receiving position3ato3flocated on anupper surface14aof thecard display body14. Each of the sixcard receiving positions3ato3fcomprises a respective rectangular area having two long edges and two short edges, and being sized and shaped to receive a playing card. The rectangular areas of the differentcard receiving positions3ato3fare all the same size and shape, and are arranged spaced apart side by side in a line, with the long sides of adjacent rectangular areas in parallel.

Preferably, the rectangular areas of thecard receiving positions3ato3fare marked in a plain colour contrasting with the remainder of theupper surface14aof thedisplay body14. In the illustrated example the rectangular areas are white and the remainder of theupper surface14ais black. In other examples different colours may be used.

Each of thecard stations2ato2falso comprises arespective light4ato4fassociated with the respectivecard receiving position3ato3f. Each of thelights4ato4fis located adjacent a short edge of the rectangular area of the associatedcard receiving position3ato3f, with all of thelights4ato4fbeing located on the same side of the line of rectangular areas. Each of thelights4ato4fextends in a direction parallel to the short edges of the rectangular areas for a distance approximately equal to the length of the short edges of the rectangular area of the associatedcard receiving position3ato3f.

The location of thelights4ato4fadjacent to the respectivecard receiving positions3ato3fwith which they are associated ensures that each light4ato4fcan provide an unambiguous visual indication of the associatedcard receiving position3ato3fwhen the light4ato4fis illuminated.

In operation of thecard selection apparatus1 to play the game, sixcards15ato15fare dealt by the dealer, and eachcard15ato15fin turn is placed face down on theupper surface14aof thedisplay body14 on a different one of thecard receiving positions3ato3fof thecard stations2ato2f, as shown inFIG. 3b.

When the sixcards15ato15fhave been dealt face down onto respectivecard receiving positions3ato3f, the dealer presses thefirst push button5 to generate a deal complete signal to notify thecontrol unit10 that the sixcards15ato15fhave been dealt.

The method followed by thecard selection apparatus1 is shown in the flow chart ofFIG. 7.

In a receivingstep20, thecard selection apparatus1 receives a user input notifying that the deal is complete, in the illustrated embodiment this user input is made by the dealer pressing thefirst push button5.

The deal complete signal generated by thefirst push button5 is sent to thecontrol unit10, where theinput module7 sends the deal complete signal to thecentral processing module12. Thecentral processing module12 identifies the deal complete signal and begins the method.

Next, in arandom illumination step21, in response to the deal complete signal thecard selection apparatus1 successively illuminates random ones of thelights4ato4f, each for a predetermined short time period. As is explained above, each light4ato4fis associated with a respectivecard receiving position3ato3f. Accordingly, each of the predetermined short time periods is associated with a random one of thelights4ato4fbeing illuminated and with the corresponding one of thecard receiving position3ato3f.

Thecentral processing module12 is provided with a series of random numbers by the randomnumber generator module9. Thecentral processing module12 uses the current random number in the series to chose one of thelights4ato4fto be illuminated, and then instructs theoutput module8 to supply power to only the chosen one of thelights4ato4f. Theoutput module8 then supplies power to the chosen one of thelights4ato4falong the corresponding respective one of thepower lines13ato13f.

In one example the different ones oflights4ato4fmay each be assigned a number in therange 1 to 6, and the random number generator module may provide random numbers in therange 1 to 6. In response to each random number value the light which has been assigned the same value may be chosen. Different choosing methods may be used in other examples.

After a predetermined time period, thecentral processing module12 uses the next random number in the series to chose one of thelights4ato4fto be illuminated, and then instructs theoutput module8 to supply power to only the chosen one of thelights4ato4f. Theoutput module8 then supplies power to the chosen one of thelights4ato4falong the corresponding respective one of thepower lines13ato13f. Accordingly, randomly selected ones of thelights4ato4fare illuminated for each of a series of the predetermined time periods.

It should be noted that since the choosing of the light to be illuminated is random, this may result in a different one of thelights4ato4f, or the same one of thelights4ato4f, being illuminated in successive time periods of the series of time periods.

This process of randomly choosing one of thelights4ato4fand illuminating it for a predetermined period of time is repeated in therandom illumination step21, until thecard selection apparatus1 receives a user input of a card selection signal, or a predetermined maximum duration of therandom illumination step21 is reached without the card selection signal being received.

When the process of randomly choosing one of thelights4ato4fand illuminating it for a predetermined period of time is repeated in therandom illumination step21, the predetermined time for which the chosen light is illuminated before the random choosing is repeated is reduced on successive occasions of choosing until the predetermined time reaches a lower limit. This reduction in the successive illumination times may generate a perception of acceleration of events in players, and prompt players to input a card selection signal.

The provision of a lower limit is not essential. However, it may be preferred to select a lower limit based on the persistence of vision phenomenon in humans, so that when the predetermined time is at the lower limit observers will still be able to perceive successive illuminations of different lights.

In a first alternative procedure, thecard selection apparatus1 receives a user input of a card selection signal before the predetermined maximum duration has expired in a receive cardselection signal step22, in the illustrated embodiment this user input is made by a player pressing thesecond push button6.

The card selection signal generated by thesecond push button6 is sent to thecontrol unit10, where theinput module7 sends the card selection signal to thecentral processing module12. Thecentral processing module12 then identifies the card selection signal and proceeds to a continuous illumination step23.

Next, in the continuous illumination step23, thecard selection apparatus1 continuously illuminates the chosen one of thelights4ato4fwhich was being illuminated when the card selection signal was received for a predetermined illumination time, and then stops illuminating any of thelights4ato4f.

In response to receiving the card selection signal, thecentral processing module12 identifies which one of thelights4ato4fis the chosen light currently being illuminated, and then instructs theoutput module8 to continue to supply power to only that identified one of thelights4ato4f. Theoutput module8 then supplies power to the identified one of thelights4ato4falong the corresponding respective one of thepower lines13ato13f.

After the predetermined illumination time has expired, thecentral processing module12 instructs theoutput module8 to stop the supply of power to the identified one of thelights4ato4f, and theoutput module8 then stops supplying power to the identified one of thelights4ato4f.

In a second alternative procedure, the predetermined maximum duration expires without thecard selection apparatus1 receiving a user input of a card selection signal, in a maximum duration reachedstep24.

Thecentral processing module12 determines that the predetermined maximum duration has expired, and proceeds to the continuous illumination step23.

Next, in the continuous illumination step23, thecard selection apparatus1 continuously illuminates the chosen one of thelights4ato4fwhich was being illuminated when the predetermined maximum duration expired for a predetermined illumination time, and then stops illuminating any of thelights4ato4f.

In response to determining that the predetermined maximum duration has expired, thecentral processing module12 identifies which one of thelights4ato4fis currently the chosen light being illuminated, and then instructs theoutput module8 to continue to supply power to only that identified one of thelights4ato4f. Theoutput module8 then supplies power to the identified one of thelights4ato4falong the corresponding respective one of thepower lines13ato13f.

Thecentral processing module12 uses a clock signal provided by theclock module11 to determine when the predetermined periods of time, the predetermined maximum duration, and the predetermined illumination time, have expired.

Thecard selection apparatus1 in the continuous illumination step23 is shown inFIG. 6c. InFIG. 6cthelight4cis illuminated. It should be understood that this is only an example and any one of thelights4ato4fcould be illuminated in the continuous illumination step23.

As is explained above, the location of thelights4ato4fadjacent to the respectivecard receiving positions3ato3fwith which they are associated ensures that each light4ato4fprovides an unambiguous visual indication of the associatedcard receiving position3ato3fwhen the light4ato4fis illuminated.

Accordingly, the continuous illumination of the selected one oflights4ato4fprovides an unambiguous visual indication of the associatedcard receiving position3ato3f, and of the face downcard15ato15flocated at thatcard receiving position15ato15f, indicating that the face downcard15ato15flocated at thatcard receiving position15ato15fis the selected card.

The dealer then turns over the indicatedcard15ato15flocated on thecard receiving position3ato3fassociated with the light4ato4fwhich is illuminated in the continuous illumination step23, and places thiscard15ato15fface up on thecard receiving position3ato3f, as shown inFIG. 6d. In the illustrated example the indicated card turned face up is thecard15c, which is the four of hearts.

This indicatedcard15ato15fwhich is turned face up is the card selected by thecard selection apparatus1. In the illustrated example this selected card iscard15c, the four of hearts. The selected card is then used in the game to resolve wagers, as discussed in the previous examples.

In an alternative example the second button could be omitted and the selection of one of the card receiving positions, and the card located at that card receiving position, made directly by the card selection apparatus without any player input. In one example of this alternative embodiment the card selection apparatus could simply be arranged to always follow the second alternative procedure of selecting a card receiving station based on which light is illuminated when a predetermined maximum duration is reached, as described above. However, it will usually be preferred for a player to generate the second user signal in order to reassure players that the selection is outside the control of the dealer.

In other examples, different procedures for random selection of a card receiving stations, and the card located at that card receiving station, by the card selection apparatus could be followed, and the outcome of this selection indicated by illuminating an appropriate one of the lights.

In the described example, the selection of the light to be illuminated is random, and this may result in a different one of thelights4ato4f, or the same one of thelights4ato4f, being selected and illuminated in successive selections during the random illumination step. This is not essential. In other examples the selection of the light to be illuminated may be constrained to always select a non-illuminated light different from the currently illuminated light, but a random one of the non-illuminated lights.

In the described example, during the random illumination step the predetermined time for which a selected light is illuminated before the random selection is repeated is reduced on successive occasions of selection. This is not essential. In other examples this predetermined time may be constant.

In the described example, a first push button is used by the dealer to generate the first user input of a deal complete signal. This is not essential. In other examples, the deal complete signal may be generated by alternative user input means. In further examples, the card selection apparatus may comprise sensing means able to determine whether cards are present at the card receiving stations and generate a deal complete signal when cards are present at all of the card receiving stations without requiring any dealer input.

In the illustrated example, a single second push button is used to generate the card selection signal. In alternative examples where the game has more than one player, one of the players may be selected to push the second button and generate the card selection signal. This player selection may be carried out in any preferred manner. The player selection may for example be random, or by the dealer, or may be based on actions within the game. For example, the player making a wager having the largest stake, or the player making a wager having the highest potential winnings, may be selected to push the second button.

In alternative examples, a plurality of second push buttons may be used. In examples where the game has more than one player, each of the players may have a separate second button to generate the card selection signal. In some examples where multiple second buttons are used, one player may be selected to push their second button and generate the card selection signal in a similar manner to the examples described above where only one second button is used. In other examples inputs from the different players may be used to generate the card selection signal in any convenient manner. For example, the first player to press the second button may generate the card selection signal, or the card selection signal may be generated when a predetermined number of players have pressed their respective second buttons.

In the described examples, the control unit selectively illuminates lights by selectively providing power to the lights. This is not essential. Other control arrangements may be used. In some examples the control unit may send control signals to a local power supply associated with one or more of the lights, the control signals instructing which light was to be supplied with power by the local power supply.

In the described examples, the different parts of thecard selection apparatus1 are connected by signal lines. This is not essential. In other examples signals may be carried between different parts of the apparatus by wireless means, for example infra-red signalling or Bluetooth™. In such examples the signals may be protected by suitable encryption.

In the described examples, the card receiving stations are all formed together in a single display body. This is not essential. In other examples the card receiving sections may be formed separately. The card receiving stations or display body may be formed as an integral part of a gaming table.

In other examples of playing the game, alternative methods of randomly selecting the card may be used.

In one alternative selection method, each card receiving station, or each face down card, may be associated with a number or colour. One number or colour can then be randomly selected, and the associated face down card will be the selected card.

A number or colour may be randomly selected in a number of ways, for example by rolling a dice with numbered or coloured faces, spinning a numbered or coloured wheel, spinning a pointer surrounded by numbered or coloured regions, bingo balls, an electronic random colour or number generating apparatus, or the like. The selection action, such as rolling a dice, or spinning a wheel, may be carried out by the dealer, or by a selected player.

In one alternative selection method, one player may be selected and allowed to pick a face down card which is to be the selected card. This will be random selection, regardless of the reasoning used by the player to pick the card, because the players do not know the identities of the face down cards.

In these methods, a player may be selected to take an action by the dealer, or may be identified by the game rules. For example, the player wagering the highest stake, or making the wager having the highest potential return, may be selected to take the action.

Example 4

In this example, game play is similar to the examples set out above with the difference that a different playing area is used.

In a real-world example, the game is played on a casino table having a playing surface formed by a visual display screen with the playing area displayed or rendered on the display screen. This arrangement may allow a number of different games to be played on the same casino table by changing the displayed playing area. Commonly, such visual display screens are rectangular.

In a real-world example, the game is played on a casino table having a playing surface formed by a visual display screen similar with the playing area illustrated inFIG. 8 displayed or rendered on the display screen. The game play is similar to that described in relation to Example 1, except that adifferent playing area130 is used.

The playingarea130 differs from the playing area121 according to the second example mainly in that the playingarea130 has a different overall shape, so the different regions are shaped and arranged differently to fit this overall shape. The playingarea130 includes regions corresponding to all of the same wagers as the playingarea120.

Example 5

The examples described above relate to versions of the game played using real physical cards. An alternative example played on a game system displaying virtual cards on a visual display is illustrated inFIG. 9.

In the system illustrated inFIG. 9, agame machine200 comprises amain display201 and adealer terminal202, and is linked to a number ofplayer terminals203 by respective wireless communication links210. Thewireless communications links210 may for example be infra-red or Bluetooth™ links, or a local communications network. The communications links may be protected by encryption.

Eachplayer terminal203 comprises aplayer display204 for displaying information to a player, and player input means205 to enable a player to place one or more wagers by selecting a wager based on a predicted parameter of the selected card and a wager amount. The input means205 may be a conventional keyboard, or maybe a touch-screen device or a specialised keyboard adapted for inputting wager amounts and selecting wagers. Optionally, theplayer terminal203 may display the identity of the selected card in previous rounds of the game. In some examples thedisplay204 and input means205 may be combined in a touch screen display. Eachplayer terminal203 may include in its display204 a field which shows a running total value of a player's account, this value being reduced as the player places a wager, and increased as the player receives winnings.

Themain display201 displays aplaying area206 and acard display207.

The playingarea206 displays the available wagers. Optionally, the playingarea206 may display the payout odds for each of the available wagers. Optionally, the playingarea206 may display the wagers placed by the different players during game play. Optionally, the playingarea206 may identify the winning wagers when the identity of the selected card is revealed. The playingarea206 may for example be the playingarea130 according to example 4.

Thecard display207 displays images of the backs of the six dealt cards, and then displays the face of the selected card when random selection has taken place. The card display may display the backs of the five non-selected cards together with the face of the selected card, so that the displayed images has the appearance of the selected card of the six face down cards being turned face up. Optionally, thecard display207 may display the identity of the selected card in previous rounds of the game.

Thedealer terminal202 comprises adealer display208, which may display some or all of the same information as themain display206, and also displays dealer information regarding the progress and play of the game, and dealer input means209 to enable the dealer to input commands controlling the progress of the game. The input means209 may be a conventional keyboard, or maybe a touch-screen device or a specialised keyboard adapted for inputting game commands. In some examples thedisplay208 and input means209 may be combined in a touch screen display.

Thegame machine200 further comprises aprocessor220, acard generator221, amemory222, and arandom number generator223.

Theprocessor220 is in overall control of the game, based on instructions stored in thememory222. Thememory222 includes a payout table234 which determine the amounts to be paid out to players on the basis of the result predicted by the player, the amount wagered, and the identity of the selected card.

FIG. 10 illustrates amethod300 for playing the card game with rules as discussed above using thegame machine200.

In afirst step301 theprocessor220 receives a game session start instruction input through the dealer input means209 by the dealer.

Then, in astep302, in response to the game session start instruction theprocessor220 instructs thecard generator221 to generate the deck of cards to be used to play the game. The

different displays

201,206 and208 of thegame machine200 may display a message indicating that the deck is being generated to indicate to players why the game cannot be played at this time. This message may optionally include a progress bar.

Thecard generator221 generates the deck using first tothird card databases230 to231 stored in thememory222 by the following method illustrated schematically inFIGS. 11ato11d.

Firstly, thecard generator221 generates an ordered deck comprising all of the cards to be used to play the game in thefirst database230 arranged in a numbered sequence. The stored ordered deck comprises a card data value corresponding to each possible card position in the deck, with each card data value comprising data identifying the card. The card data values represent cards, and for brevity and clarity, these card data values will be referred to as cards herein. In the illustrated example where 6 packs of cards with two Jokers each are to be used, the ordered deck will comprise a total of 324 cards, that is, 6 each of the 52 cards in a conventional pack of cards and 12 Jokers. The ordered deck may be in the order of six conventional decks of cards with two Jokers each placed one after another, or any other convenient order. Since the card generator will shuffle the cards before use the starting order is irrelevant to game play.

Then, thecard generator221 shuffles the ordered deck in thefirst database221 to form a shuffled deck in thesecond database222. The shuffling process carried out by thecard generator221 is shown inFIG. 11a. Thecard generator221 chooses a random one of the 324 cards in thefirst database230. The randomly chosen card is chosen based on a random number in therange 1 to 324 provided by therandom number generator223, the chosen card having the sequence number corresponding to the random number is chosen. The randomly chosen card is then deleted from thefirst database230, and is entered in asecond database231 as the first card in a numbered sequence. Thefirst database230 then contains 323 cards, and thesecond database231 contains 1 card.

Next, as shown inFIG. 11b, thecard generator221 chooses a random one of the 323 cards in thefirst database230 based on a random number in therange 1 to 323 provided by therandom number generator223. The randomly chosen card is then deleted from thefirst database230, and is entered in thesecond database231 as the next, second card in the numbered sequence. Thefirst database230 then contains 322 cards, and thesecond database231 contains 2 cards.

Next, as shown inFIG. 11c, thecard generator221 chooses a random one of the 322 cards in thefirst database230 based on a random number in therange 1 to 322 provided by therandom number generator223. The randomly chosen card is then deleted from thefirst database230, and is entered in thesecond database231 as the next, third card in the numbered sequence. Thefirst database230 then contains 321 cards, and thesecond database231 contains 3 cards.

This process is continued until all of the cards in thefirst database230 have been randomly chosen and entered sequentially in the numbered sequence in thesecond database231.

In the last stage of this process, as shown inFIG. 11d, the only card remaining in thefirst database230 is chosen and is entered in thesecond database231 as the final card in the numbered sequence. Thefirst database230 then contains no cards, and thesecond database231 contains 324 cards in a random order.

Next, thecard generator221 repeats the shuffling process to shuffle the shuffled deck in thesecond database222 to form a twice shuffled deck in thethird database223.

As in the previous shuffling process, thecard generator221 chooses a random one of the 324 cards in thesecond database231 based on a random number in therange 1 to 324 provided by therandom number generator223, the chosen card having the sequence number corresponding to the random number is chosen, and then deleted from thesecond database231, and is entered in thethird database233 as the first card in a numbered sequence. Thesecond database322 then contains 323 cards, and thethird database233 contains 1 card.

This process is continued as before, until all of the cards in thesecond database231 have been randomly chosen and entered sequentially in the numbered sequence in thethird database232.

Following this double shuffling, the numbered sequence of cards in thethird database232 will comprise cards in a random order.

The numbered sequence of randomly ordered cards in thethird database232 is then used as the deck of cards for playing the game.

When the deck generation has been completed theprocessor220 displays a message on thedealer display208 indicating that the game is ready to be played. Optionally, similar messages may be displayed on some or all of the

other displays

201 and204.

Instep303 theprocessor220 receives a game start instruction input through the dealer input means209 by the dealer.

Then, in astep304, in response to the game start instruction, theprocessor220 takes the first six cards in the numbered sequence stored in thethird database232, and assigns these six cards to respective ones of six unrevealed card positions. These six cards are then deleted from the numbered sequence stored in thethird database232. The processor stores the identity of the cards assigned to each of the six unrevealed card positions in anunrevealed card database233 in thememory222. The processor displays images of the backs of six cards on thecard display207, each corresponding to one of the six unrevealed card positions to indicate that the six concealed, or face down, cards have been selected. Optionally, images of the backs of the six cards are also displayed on the player displays204. Theprocessor220 may optionally further display a prompt on thedealer display208 indicating that thegame machine200 is ready to accept wagers.

In astep305, theprocessor220 receives a ready to receive wagers instruction input through the dealer input means209 by the dealer.

Then, in astep306, in response to the ready to receive wagers instruction, theprocessor220 displays a message on themain display201 and the player displays204 indicating that wagers may be placed. This message may for example be “place your bets”. Each player can then use theirplayer terminal203 to input wager data comprising a predicted result and a wager amount, using the respective input means205. The wager data is communicated to theprocessor220 via thecommunications links210, and is stored inmemory222.

In astep307, theprocessor220 receives a wagers placed instruction input through the dealer input means209 by the dealer. The dealer inputs the instruction wagers placed instruction when the dealer determines that all players have placed their respective wagers. In response to the wagers placed instruction, theprocessor220 stops accepting wagers from the player displays204, and displays a message on themain display201 and the player displays204 indicating that no more wagers may be placed. This message may for example be “no more bets”.

Then, in astep308, in response to the wagers placed instruction, theprocessor220 randomly selects one of theplayer terminals203 based on a random number generated by therandom number generator223 to be authorised to select the card, and displaying a select card message on thedisplay204 of thatplayer terminal203. Optionally, messages identifying theplayer terminal203 authorised to carry out the selection may also be displayed on the player displays204 of theother player terminals203, and/or themain display201, and/or thedealer display208.

Then, in astep309, theprocessor220 successively illuminates random ones of illuminatable display areas each adjacent to one of the images of the backs of the cards corresponding to the six unrevealed card positions, each for a predetermined short time period, in a corresponding manner to the light illumination by the card selecting apparatus according to the third example. The displayed image may correspond to the display of the card selecting apparatus according to the third example as shown in and described with reference toFIGS. 6band6c, with the illuminatable display areas corresponding to the illustratedlights4ato4f.

Theprocessor220 is provided with a series of random numbers by therandom number generator223. Theprocessor220 uses the current random number in the series to choose one of the illuminatable display areas to be illuminated.

In one example the different ones of the illuminatable display areas may each be assigned a number in therange 1 to 6, and the random number generator may provide random numbers in therange 1 to 6. In response to each random number value the illuminatable display area which has been assigned the same value may be chosen to be illuminated. Different choosing methods may be used in other examples.

After a predetermined time period, thecentral processing module12 uses the next random number in the series to chose one of the illuminatable display areas to be illuminated. Accordingly, randomly selected ones of the illuminatable display areas are illuminated for each of a series of the predetermined time periods.

When the process of randomly illuminating one of the illuminatable display areas for a predetermined period of time is repeated in therandom illumination step309, the predetermined time for which the chosen illuminatable display area is illuminated before the random selection is repeated is reduced on successive occasions until the predetermined time reaches a lower limit. This reduction in the successive illumination times may generate a perception of acceleration of events in players, and prompt players to input a card selection signal.

The provision of a lower limit is not essential. However, it may be preferred to select a lower limit based on the persistence of vision phenomenon in humans, so that when the predetermined time is at the lower limit observers will still be able to perceive successive illuminations of different illuminatable display areas.

In a first alternative procedure, theprocessor220 receives a card selection signal through the authorisedplayer terminal203 before a predetermined maximum duration has expired in a receive cardselection signal step310.

Next, in thecard revealing step311, theprocessor220 identifies the unrevealed card position adjacent to the illuminatable area being illuminated when the card selection signal was received as the selected card, recovers the card identity assigned to that unrevealed card position from theunrevealed card database233, and displays an image of that recovered card in place of the image of the back of a card in that unrevealed card position of thecard display207. Optionally, the processor may also display this in the player displays204 and thedealer display208. Optionally, theprocessor220 may also continue to illuminate the illuminatable area for a period of time.

In a second alternative procedure, the predetermined maximum duration expires without theprocessor220 receiving a card selection signal, in a maximum duration reachedstep24.

Theprocessor220 determines that the predetermined maximum duration has expired, and proceeds to thecard revealing step311.

In this case, in thecard revealing step311, theprocessor220 identifies the unrevealed card position adjacent to the illuminatable area being illuminated when the predetermined maximum duration expired as the selected card, recovers the card identity assigned to that unrevealed card position from theunrevealed card database233, and displays an image of that recovered card in place of the image of the back of a card in that unrevealed card position of thecard display207. Optionally, the processor may also display this in the player displays204 and thedealer display208. Optionally, theprocessor220 may also continue to illuminate the illuminatable area for a period of time.

Then, in astep312, theprocessor220 resolves the game result by illuminating the areas of theplaying area206 corresponding to wagers which are winning wagers based on the identity of the randomly selected card, and using the payout table234 and the wager data stored inmemory222 to identify winning wagers and the amount won. Theprocessor220 then credits any winning players with their respective winnings, and displays the fact that the player has won and the amount on therespective player display204.

The six cards stored in theunrevealed card database233 are then discarded. In alternative examples these cards may be retained, and overwritten in a subsequent game.

Thegame machine200 then returns to step303 ready to play another round of the game on receipt of a game start instruction input by theprocessor220.

In the next game, the first six cards in the numbered sequence stored in thethird database232 are taken for use. It will be understood that since the taken six cards are deleted in each game, successive games will use successive groups of six cards from the numbered sequence stored in thethird database232.

Before returning to step303 the processor compares the number of cards remaining in the numbered sequence stored in thethird database232 with a predetermined minimum value in astep313. If the remaining number of cards is below the predetermined minimum value the method returns to step302 to generate a new deck of cards for further play.

In one alternative selection method, instead of the player authorised to carry out card selection being selected randomly, they may be selected by the dealer, or identified by the game rules. For example, the player wagering the highest stake, or making the wager having the highest potential return, may be selected to carry out card selection.

In one alternative selection method, the authorised player and allowed to directly pick a face down card which is to be the selected card. This will be random selection, regardless of the reasoning used by the player to pick the card, because the players do not know the identities of the face down cards.

In alternative examples, inputs from a plurality of different players may be used to generate the card selection signal in any convenient manner. For example, the first player to make an input may generate the card selection signal, or the card selection signal may be generated when a predetermined number of players have make a respective input.

In alternative examples other means of indicating which one of the face down cards is the selected card may be used.

In alternative examples a continuous deck of cards may be used where the taken six cards are retained in the deck, and the deck is shuffled between each game.

Example 6

The example 5 related to versions of the game played using a game system displaying virtual cards on a visual display.

In the system illustrated inFIG. 12, the game may be played remotely using anetworked game system400 comprising a game server401 that is linked to a number ofplayer terminals402 by acommunications network403 such as the Internet.

Theplayer terminal402 may be a desktop or laptop computer, or may be a pad computer or mobile telephone apparatus or any other mobile communications apparatus connectable to the communications network. Theplayer terminal402 has similar game functions to theplayer terminal203 discussed above.

Operation of thenetworked game system400 is similar to operation of thegame machine200, with the game server401 comprising corresponding components to thegame machine200 with themain display201 anddealer terminal202 omitted. However, operation of the networked gaming system may be entirely automated so that no dealer is required. Further, nomain display201 is provided, so all necessary messages and information are displayed on theplayer terminals402.

Accordingly, thenetworked game system400 substantially follows the method ofFIG. 10, but with dealer actions being made by a processor of the game server401.

Instep301 the processor receives a game session start instruction input from an external game controller.

Instep303 the processor may receive a game start instruction input from one ormore player terminals402 of players who wish to play the game. The processor may display on eachplayer terminal402 an invitation to the player to place a bet and initiate a round of play.

Step305 is omitted, and the processor proceeds directly fromstep304 to step306.

Instep307 the processor stops accepting wagers from theplayer terminals402, and displays a message on theplayer terminals402 indicating that no more wagers may be placed based on the length of time that has passed since wagers started being placed, and/or the length of time that has passed since any player placed a wager, and/or every player having placed at least one wager.

Instep312, depending on the player's selected wager, a congratulatory or commiseratory message may be displayed on eachplayer terminal402. The display will then revert to an invitation to the player to place a bet and initiate a further round of play.

Example 7

The seventh example relates to a side game which may be played by players using a player terminal of the game machine of the fifth example, or a player terminal of the networked game system of the sixth example.

In the side game each of the cards in the deck which may be the selected card during play of the main game described above is assigned one of five colours, with the exception of the Jokers.

In one example, the Hearts numbered 1 to 10 may be assigned a yellow colour, the Diamonds numbered 1 to 10 may be assigned a red colour, Spades numbered 1 to 10 may be assigned a green colour, and Clubs numbered 1 to 10 may be assigned a blue colour. All picture cards, Jack, Queen or King of any suit, may be assigned an orange colour. The Jokers are assigned to have no colour.

FIG. 13 illustrates amethod500 for playing a side game with rules according to one embodiment of the seventh aspect of the present disclosure.

During the placing wagers part of the main game, after the six cards have been displayed face down, in astep501, players wishing to play the side game may place a side bet by using their payer terminal to input wager details indicating one of the five colours and an amount wagered.

When the selected card is revealed in the main game, the indicated colours of the different player wagers are compared to the colour assigned to the selected card in astep502.

Player wagers having an indicated colour which does not match the colour assigned to the selected card are losing wagers. Jokers are assigned no colour, and accordingly, if the selected card is a Joker all wagers are losing wagers. The amounts wagered on these losing wagers are taken by the house, and the corresponding players must make a new wager if they wish to continue playing the side game in subsequent rounds of the main game. A proportion of these lost wagers may be added to a cumulative jackpot value.

Player wagers having an indicated colour which does match the colour assigned to the selected card are winning wagers. These winning wagers are maintained into subsequent rounds of the main game without the corresponding players having to take any further action.

In a step503, the number of times that each winning player wager has been a winning wager matching the colour of the selected card is checked.

The winning wagers are then resolved instep504 based on the total consecutive number of times they have been winning wagers, based on the wager resolution table 3.


Number of times won	Reward

1	none
2	none
3	Win amount wagered
4	Win twice amount wagered
5	Win three times amount wagered
6	Win 10% ofjackpot
7	Win jackpot

As shown in table 2, if they wager has won once or twice, no reward is given.

If the wager has won three times, the amount wagered is won.

If the wager has won four times, twice the amount wagered is won.

If the wager has won five times, three times the amount wagered is won.

If the wager has won six times, ten percent of jackpot is won.

If the wager has won seven times, the jackpot is won.

Optionally, if more than one player wins the jackpot at the same time, the jackpot will be split between the winning players.

The method then returns to step501, where the winning wagers are automatically retained as wagers for the next round of the game.

The cards may be coloured in accordance with their assigned colours in the side game. Alternatively, when the selected card is revealed the colour assigned to the selected card may be indicated.

The side game of the seventh example may be played with other card games instead of the main game described above.

The above description refers to the placing of wagers having wager amounts, these wagers and amounts may be defined in terms of actual currency, or in terms of game credits. Similarly, winnings from winning wagers may be paid in currency or game credits.

The above description refers to random numbers and random selections. The terms random number and random selection should be interpreted as including pseudo-random numbers and pseudo-random selection respectively.

In alternative examples the game could be played with wagers based directly on the identity of a randomly selected card without first dealing out a number of cards and selecting one of the cards from the number of cards.

The above examples of the invention provide a card game with increased player appeal and excitement of card game play.

The above example and embodiments have been described by way of example only and modifications are possible within the scope of the claims that follow.